AL MUFTI (USA) 1985

AL MUFTI (USA) 1985

AL MUFTI (USA) 1985 (foaled on the 9th March 1985), a dark bay / brown colt by ROBERTO (USA) out of LASSIE DEAR (USA) by BUCKPASSER (USA), was bred in North America (Kentucky) by William S. Farish & W.S. Kilroy.

He was sold to Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estate at the 1986 Keeneland July Yearling Sales for $1.2m and sent to England where he won a 1200m event at Ascot as a 2yo.  He also placed 2nd in the Foundation Stakes 1991m (Listed) and 3rd in the St Simon Stakes 2414m (3yo Group 3) in England.  In Germany he ran 2nd in the Gerling Preis 2400m (Group 2), before returning to North America in 1989 where he had just the one unplaced run.

AL MUFTI was then purchased by a South African syndicate in 1989 and brought to this country to stand at Rose & Ashley Parker’s Ascot Stud in the Eastern Cape.  They were already very familiar with AL MUFTI’s father, ROBERTO (USA) 1969, as they had in 1986 imported and stood MULLINEAUX (USA) 1973, a full bother to ROBERTO.  Unfortunately MULLINEAUX (previously at stud in the USA from 1980 to 1985) only managed to produce 4 smallish crops (which included 4 Stakes Winners) in South Africa before he sadly died in 1989.  ROBERTO had 2 other sons that stood at stud in South Africa, INTO THE SUN (USA) 1984 and LAUGHING ROBERTO (USA) 1987 (produced just two foals, he died shortly after his arrival).

GLORIOUS SPRING (USA) 1968, the full sister to ROBERTO and MULLINEAUX, was the dam of ROLLINS (USA) 1978.  ROLLINS was at stud in South Africa from 1983 to 1987 (6 small crops which included 9 Stakes Winners, one of them a Group 1 winner).  He was of course the broodmare sire of the great JET MASTER (SAF) 1994.

LASSIE DEAR (USA) 1974 by BUCKPASSER (USA) 1963, the dam of AL MUFTI, won 5 races and was an exceptional broodmare who has influenced many pedigrees around the world.  She was purchased at the 1975 Keeneland Summer Sales for $76000 by William S. Farish.  After her racing career he exchanged a half share in her with W.S. Kilroy for a half share in the mare BOLD BIKINI (USA) 1969 (the dam of the Group 1 winner, LAW SOCIETY (USA) 1982).  LASSIE DEAR produced 13 foals while at stud (12 of them winners).  She died on the 9th February 1996.  Her contribution to the South African Stud Book is huge and she is a significant and relevant name inclusion in many successful pedigrees that are active with us today and will be for some time to come still.

AL MUFTI’s ½ brother, WOLFHOUND (USA) 1988, was also at stud in South Africa for part of his stud career from 2002 to 2008.  His ½ sister, WEEKEND SURPRISE (USA) 1980, was the dam of AP INDY (USA) 1989, a sire of sires of international repute and deployment who had 9 of his sons stand at stud in South Africa.  She was also the dam of TIGER RIDGE (USA) 1996, who stood in South Africa at Wilgerbosdrift Stud from 2007 to 2014. WEEKEND SURPRISE, WOLFHOUND, AP INDY and TIGER RIDGE were, like AL MUFTI, all bred by William S. Farish & W.S. Kilroy.

After covering his first book of 50 mares on his arrival in South Africa, trainer Terrance Millard managed to persuade the owners of AL MUFTI to allow him to return to racing.  He raced 7 times in South Africa from February 1991 to July 1991 for 3 wins and 3 places, including his close second to Flaming Rock in the 1991 Rothmans July Handicap, before returning to Ascot Stud to resume his stud career on a permanent basis.

His principal winners are as follows:

(COLTS)

  • ALTRUIST 10 wins, 1993 Dahlia Plate, 1994 EP Guineas.
  • PRAIRIE BREEZE 6 wins, 1998 John Skeaping Trophy, 1998 Freedom Day Handicap, 1997 2nd Tab (OFS) 3-Y-O Stakes, 1997 2nd Tony Ruffel 3-Y-O Handicap, 1997 3rd South African Guineas, 1997 3rd The Greyville 1900, 1998 3rd Premier’s Handicap.
  • ELEGANT AL 6 wins, 1999 Nomads Handicap, 1999 Premier’s Handicap, 1999 2nd Colorado King Stakes, 1999 2nd Horse Chestnut Stakes, 1999 4th Champion Stakes.
  • CAPTAIN AL 10 wins, 1999 Matchem Stakes, 1999 Midsummer Stakes, 1999 Cape Argus Guineas, 2000 Merchants Stakes, 2000 Diadem Stakes, 1998 2nd Clairwood Nursery Stakes, 2000 3rd Matchem Stakes.
  • THE SHEIKH 6 wins, 1998 Godolphin Barb Stakes, 1998 Sharp Juvenile Stakes, 1999 Cape Derby, 1999 South African Guineas, 2001 Midsummer Stakes, 1999 2nd Selangor Cup, 1999 3rd Suburban Stakes, 2000 3rd Merchants Stakes, 2000 3rd Midsummer Stakes, 2001 3rd Gold Challenge, 1998 4th Breeders Challenge Stakes, 1999 4th SA Classic, 2000 4th Queen’s Plate, 2000 4th Gold Challenge.
  • AL NITAK 10 wins, 2002 Tommy Hotspur Handicap, 2002 The Merchants, 2002 Golden Horse Sprint.
  • ALASTOR 10 wins, 2004 J&B Metropolitan, 2004 Hawaii Stakes.
  • ROMAN CHARGER 8 wins, 2000 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery, 2001 Matchem Stakes, 2001 Green Point Stakes WFA, 2001 Selangor Cup, 2002 Peninsula Handicap, 2003 Peninsula Handicap, 2000 2nd Cape Breeders’ Stakes, 2003 2nd Green Point Stakes (WFA), 2001 3rd Daily News 2000, 2001 4th Cape Derby, 2002 4th Matchem Stakes.
  • VICTORY MOON 7 wins (6 wins in Dubai + 1 win in SA), 2003 UAE 2000 Guineas, 2003 UAE Derby, 2004 Maktoum Challenge (Round 2), 2004 Maktoum Racing Challenge (Round 3), 2004 3rd Maktoum Challenge (Round 1), 2004 3rd Dubai World Cup.
  • CATALOOCHEE 5 wins, 2003 Storm Bird Stakes, 2003 Protea Stakes, 2004 Computaform Sprint, 2004 Golden Horse Sprint.

(FILLIES)

  • GARB OF GUISE 6 wins, 1994 TBA Futurity, 1995 Gosforth Park F&M Challenge, 1993 2nd EP Nursery, 1994 3rd Computaform 3-Y-O Stake, 1995 3rd Germiston November Handicap.
  • MYSTERY DAMSEL 5 wins, 1996 Silver Slipper Sprint.
  • POLAR KISS 5 wins, 1994 3rd Guineas Trial, 1994 3rd Ladies Mile (Natal), 1993 4th Allan Robertson Fillies Futurity Scottsville, 1996 4th Flamboyant Stakes.
  • BEAT THE BREEZE 6 wins, 1995 Flamboyant Stakes, 1994 2nd Debutante Stakes.
  • HAIL TO RULE 6 wins, 1994 Chairman’s Cup (PE), 1994 2-Y-O Stakes, 1996 Diana Stakes, 1995 2nd Post Natal Golden Slipper, 1995 4th Flamboyant Stakes, 1995 4th Tibouchina Stakes.
  • ARABIAN LASS 10 wins, 1995 Gosforth Park Juvenile Fillies, 1995 Premier’s Juvenile Championship, 1996 Post Natal Golden Slipper, 1996 Cape Fillies Guineas, 1997 Style Magazine Challenge, 1998 Racecourse Bookmakers Handicap, 1998 Style Magazine (Fillies & Mares) Challenge, 1995 3rd JG Hollis Memorial (Futurity), 1997 3rd Germiston November Handicap, 1998 3rd Arc-En-Ciel Paddock Stakes (WFA), 1997 4th First National Bank 1600.
  • LADY BROMPTON 7 wins, 1999 Spring Challenge (F&M), 1999 Empress Club Stakes, 1999 Jacaranda Handicap, 1999 3rd Majorca Stakes (WFA), 1999 3rd Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, 1999 4th Cape Of Good Hope Paddock Stakes (WFA), 1999 4th Garden Province Stakes.
  • DIVINE NYMPH 5 wins, 1998 2nd Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, 1999 2nd Sceptre Stakes (WFA), 1999 4th SA Fillies Sprint.
  • MARQUETTA 7 wins, 1998 Strelitzia Stakes, 1999 Vaal Platinum 3-Y-O Fillies, 1998 3rd Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, 2000 4th Sycamore Sprint.
  • FOREST IVORY 5 wins, 2000 Diana Stakes (WFA), 2001 Diana Stakes, 1999 3rd Cape Of Good Hope Nursery, 2001 4th Camellia Handicap, 2001 4th SA Fillies Sprint, 2001 4th Tibouchina Stakes.
  • ALMAH 5 wins, 2002 J&B Reserve Stayers Handicap, 2001 2nd Woolavington Stakes, 2001 3rd Jasmine Stakes, 2002 3rd Caradoc Gold Cup, 2002 3rd Gold Vase, 2002 4th Gold Bowl, 2002 4th Lonsdale Stirrup Cup.
  • RAINING ROSES 7 wins, 2001 Starling Stakes, 2001 2nd South African Fillies Guineas, 2001 2nd Garden Province Stakes, 2002 2nd Empress Club Stakes, 2001 3rd Tibouchina Stakes, 2002 3rd Spring Challenge, 2002 3rd Fancourt Majorca Stakes (WFA), 2001 4th Empress Club Stakes, 2002 4th Queen’s Plate.
  • STAR WATCH 5 wins, 2004 Flamboyant Stakes, 2003 2nd Umzimkhulu Handicap, 2003 3rd Tibouchina Stakes, 2004 4th Poinsettia Stakes.
  • ROYAL APPROVAL 4 wins, 2004 Ipi Tombe Challenge, 2004 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, 2004 SA Oaks, 2004 2nd Sun City SA Fillies Classic, 2005 2nd November Handicap, 2003 3rd Golden Slipper, 2003 3rd Thekwini Fillies Stakes, 2005 3rd Ipi Tombe Challenge.
  • ROYAL FANTASY 3 wins, 2005 Thekwini Fillies Stakes, 2006 Three Troikas Stakes, 2006 2nd KZN Fillies Guineas, 2007 2nd Fancourt Majorca Stakes (WFA), 2006 3rd Gauteng Fillies Guineas, 2006 4th Gommagomma Dingaans, 2006 4th TBA Paddock Stakes (WFA).
  • ALDERRY 3 wins, 2010 November Handicap, 2010 2nd Jacaranda Handicap, 2009 3rd Gauteng Fillies Guineas, 2009 3rd SA Fillies Classic, 2010 3rd Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, 2010 4th Yellowwood Handicap.

AL MUFTI was the CHAMPION SIRE OF SOUTH AFRICA for the 1999 / 2000 season and featured in the Top 10 on another 9 occasions.  He was also an impeccable Broodmare Sire.

He is on record as having 5 of his sons stand at stud in South Africa and is also the broodmare sire of a further 3 stallions at stud here.

AL MUFTI was retired from commercial stud duties in 2007 due to fertility issues and died in his paddock four years later on the 3rd March 2011, just six days short of his 26th Birthday.

A truly GREAT stallion that has left behind a SUPERB PURPLE LEGACY in South Africa.  His son, the inimitable champion CAPTAIN AL (SAF) 1996, now sadly also deceased, will be discussed in full on this platform shortly, so keep your eye out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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